Self-assembly of micro-structures

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of a method for assembling a multi-chip module (MCM) are described. During this method, a fluid that includes coupling elements is applied to a surface of a base plate in the MCM. Then, at least some of the coupling elements are positioned into negative features on the surface of the base plate using fluidic assembly. Note that a given coupling element selects a given negative feature using chemical-based selection and/or geometry-based selection. Next, the fluid and excess coupling elements (which reside in regions outside of the negative features on the surface) are removed.

GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS

This invention was made with United States Government support under Contract No. NBCH3039002 awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration. The United States Government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to techniques for assembling systems containing semiconductor dies. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus that facilitate fluidic self-assembly of semiconductor dies in multi-chip modules.

2. Related Art

Advances is semiconductor technology presently make it possible to integrate large-scale systems, which can include hundreds of millions of transistors, into a single semiconductor chip (or die). Integrating such large-scale systems onto a single semiconductor chip increases the speed at which such systems can operate, because signals between system components do not have to cross chip boundaries, and are not subject to lengthy chip-to-chip propagation delays. Moreover, integrating large-scale systems onto a single semiconductor chip significantly reduces production costs, because fewer semiconductor chips are required to perform a given computational task.

Unfortunately, these advances in semiconductor technology have not been matched by corresponding advances in inter-chip communication technology. Semiconductor chips are typically integrated onto a printed circuit board that contains multiple layers of signal lines for inter-chip communication. However, signal lines on a semiconductor chip are about 100 times more densely packed than signal lines on a printed circuit board. Consequently, only a tiny fraction of the signal lines on a semiconductor chip can be routed across the printed circuit board to other chips. This problem has created a bottleneck that continues to grow as semiconductor integration densities continue to increase.

Researchers have begun to investigate alternative techniques for communicating between semiconductor chips. One promising technique involves integrating arrays of capacitive transmitters and receivers onto semiconductor chips to facilitate inter-chip communication. If a first chip is situated face-to-face with a second chip so that transmitter pads on the first chip are capacitively coupled with receiver pads on the second chip, the first chip can directly transmit signals to the second chip without having to route the signals through intervening signal lines within a printed circuit board.

Capacitive coupling requires precise alignment between the transmitter pads and the receiver pads (which are more generally referred to as proximity connectors), both in a plane defined by the pads and in a direction perpendicular to the plane. Misalignment between the transmitter pads and the receiver pads may cause each receiving pad to span two transmitting pads, thereby destroying a received signal. In theory, for communication to be possible, chips must be aligned so that misalignment is less than half of a pitch between the pads. In practice, the alignment requirements may be more stringent. In addition, reducing misalignment can improve communication performance between the chips and reduce power consumption.

Unfortunately, it can be very challenging to align chips properly. Existing approaches include mechanical mounting structures that facilitate self-alignment and/or self-adjustment of pad positions. FIG. 1 illustrates one such approach in which negative features, such as etch pits 112, and micro-spheres 114 are used to align semiconductor dies 110 (and thus proximity connectors) in a multi-chip module (MCM). These etch-pits can be defined photolithographically using a subtractive process (i.e., a photolithographic process that removes material), which takes place before, during, or after circuit fabrication on the semiconductor dies 110. This enables the etch pits 112 to be accurately placed on the semiconductor dies 110 in relationship to circuits and the proximity connectors. Therefore, the photolithographic alignment between the etch pits 112 and circuits establishes precise alignment between circuits on the top and bottom semiconductor dies 110.

Note that the alignment in the X, Y, and Z directions, as well as the angular alignment between semiconductor dies 110, depends only on the relative sizes of the etch-pits 112 and the micro-spheres 114, and on the orientation and placement of the etch pits 112 on the semiconductor dies 110. In particular, the lateral alignment between circuits on the semiconductor dies 110 is achieved in a ‘snap-fit’ manner, provided the micro-spheres 114 are appropriately sized to fit into the etched pits 112. Clearly, micro-spheres 114 that are too large do not fit into the etch pits 112, and micro-spheres 114 that are too small do not properly align the top and bottom semiconductor dies 110. However, if the micro-spheres 114 sit in the groove of the etch pits 112 correctly (for example, their equators lie exactly at or higher than the surface of the semiconductor die 110-1 and exactly at or lower than the surface of semiconductor die 110-2) then circuits on the top and bottom semiconductor dies 110 are precisely aligned. Similarly, alignment in the Z direction is a function of the photolithographic feature size of the etch pits 112, the etch depth of the etch pits 112, and the diameter of the micro-spheres 114.

While this approach is useful and applicable to packaging and assembly of MCMs that include two or more semiconductor dies 110, it suffers from the limitation that the placement of micro-spheres 114 into the etch-pits 112 is not a parallel, wafer-scale process that can be readily performed at a foundry. Instead, the micro-spheres 114 are often placed into individual semiconductor dies 110 after fabrication. Consequently, this approach may add complexity and cost to the process of assembling MCMs.

Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus that facilitates aligning proximity connectors without the problems listed above.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for assembling a multi-chip module (MCM). During this method, a fluid that includes coupling elements is applied to a surface of a base plate in the MCM. Then, at least some of the coupling elements are positioned into negative features on the surface of the base plate using fluidic assembly. Note that a given coupling element selects a given negative feature using chemical-based selection and/or geometry-based selection. Next, the fluid and excess coupling elements (which reside in regions outside of the negative features on the surface) are removed.

In some embodiments, the negative features include a depression, and at least a portion of the depression has a pyramidal shape.

In some embodiments, include micro-spheres. These micro-spheres may include a metal, thereby facilitating electrical conduction via the micro-spheres. Moreover, in some embodiments the micro-spheres are transparent in a range of wavelengths, thereby facilitating optical communication via the micro-spheres.

In some embodiments, the geometry-based selection involves selection based on sizes and/or shapes of at least some of the coupling elements.

In some embodiments, the chemical-based selection involves selection based on a first compound coupled to at least some of the coupling elements and a second compound coupled to at least some of the negative features. Note that the first compound is configured to chemically bond to the second compound. In some embodiments, a given compound, which can be the first compound or the second compound, includes a nucleic acid, such as: adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, urasil, pseudouradine, thymidine, and/or inosine. Furthermore, in some embodiments the given compound includes a surfactant to facilitate adhesion of at least some of the coupling elements to at least some of the negative features.

In some embodiments, the fluidic assembly involves mechanically agitating the fluid to facilitate the positioning. Moreover, in some embodiments the positioning involves electrostatically and/or magnetostatically driving at least some of the coupling elements to the negative features.

In some embodiments, the assembling involves repeated applications of fluids which include progressively smaller coupling elements.

In some embodiments, the method further includes coupling a semiconductor die to the base plate, where the coupling involves aligning negative features on a first surface of the semiconductor die with the coupling elements in the negative features on the surface of the base plate. Note that a pattern of the negative features on the surface of the base plate may determine an orientation of the semiconductor die. Also note that the semiconductor die is configured to communicate signals using proximity connectors proximate to a second surface of the semiconductor die.

In some embodiments, the method further includes coupling another semiconductor die to the semiconductor die using coupling elements positioned in negative features on the second surface of the semiconductor die and in negative features on a surface of the other semiconductor die. Moreover, in some embodiments the method further includes coupling a component to the semiconductor die using coupling elements positioned in negative features on the second surface of the semiconductor die and in negative features on a surface of the component. Note that the component is configured to couple signals from the semiconductor die to another semiconductor die.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides another method for assembling MCMs. During this method, the applied fluid includes a first type of coupling element and a second type of coupling element. Furthermore, the first type of coupling elements have different chemical-based and/or geometry-based selection than the second type of coupling element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an existing multi-chip module (MCM).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a device that includes proximity connectors in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an MCM that includes semiconductor dies that communicate using proximity communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor die in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor die in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor die in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor die in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a base plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a technique for assembling an MCM in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a process for assembling an MCM in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a process for assembling an MCM in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Embodiments of a method, a semiconductor die, an MCM, and systems that include the MCM are described. Note that the MCM, which is sometimes referred to as a macro-chip, includes an array of chip modules (CMs) or single-chip modules (SCMs), and a given SCM includes at least one semiconductor die. Furthermore, the semiconductor die communicates with other semiconductor dies, SCMs, and/or devices in the MCM using proximity communication of electrical (capacitively coupled) signals and/or proximity communication of optical signals (which are, respectively, sometimes referred to as electrical proximity communication and optical proximity communication). This proximity communication occurs via proximity pads or connectors that are located on or are proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die.

Alignment of proximity connectors on neighboring or adjacent semiconductor dies or components is facilitated by features on one or more surface of the semiconductor dies. For a given semiconductor die, these features may include positive features (which protrude or extend above a surrounding region) and/or negative features (which are positioned below or recessed relative to a surrounding region). Note that the features may be defined using an additive (i.e., a material-deposition) and/or a subtractive (i.e., a material-removal) processes. In some embodiments, features on a first semiconductor die mate with or couple to features on a second semiconductor die. Furthermore, in some embodiments positive and/or negative features (such as a pyramidal-shaped etch pit or slot) are used in combination with inter-chip coupling elements (such as micro-spheres or balls). For example, the micro-spheres may be used to align components and/or to couple power or optical signals to the semiconductor die.

During the method, fabrication of the MCM involves fluidic self-assembly of the semiconductor dies, SCMs, and/or components. In particular, one or more types of coupling elements may be positioned into features in a portion of the MCM (such as abase plate and/or a semiconductor die) using chemical-based and/or geometry-based selection. For example, the geometry-based selection may involve selection based on sizes and/or shapes of at least some of the coupling elements. Furthermore, the chemical-based selection may involve chemical bonding (such as ionic, covalent, permanent dipole, and/or van der Waals) of at least some of the coupling elements to at least some of the features. This bonding may be between compounds that include nucleic acids (such as deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA). In some embodiments, the fluidic assembly involves: mechanical agitation, an electrostatic driving force, and/or a magnetostatic driving force. Note that this technique for assembling the MCM can be implemented in a wafer-scale process, thereby facilitating: simpler assembly, rapid assembly (for example, in parallel), and/or lower cost.

Embodiments of the semiconductor die and/or the MCM may be used in a variety of applications, including: telephony, storage area networks, data centers, networks (such as local area networks), and/or computer systems (such as multi-processor computer systems). For example, the semiconductor die may be included in a switch in a backplane that is coupled to multiple processor blades, or in a switch that is coupled to different types of components (such as processors, memory, I/O devices, and/or peripheral devices).

We now describe embodiments of a semiconductor die and an MCM. FIG. 2 presents a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a device 200 that includes proximity connectors 212 (which may be capacitive, optical, inductive, and/or conductive-based connectors). Device 200 may include at least one semiconductor die 210, where semiconductor die 210 may include integrated circuit electronics corresponding to layers deposited on a semiconductor substrate. Note that semiconductor die 210 may be packaged in an SCM and/or an MCM, where the MCM may include two or more SCMs. When packaged, for example in the SCM or the MCM, semiconductor die 210 is sometimes referred to as a “chip.”

In one embodiment, the proximity connectors 212 may be located on or proximate to at least one surface of the semiconductor die 210, the SCM and/or the MCM. In other embodiments, the semiconductor die 210, the SCM and/or the MCM may be coupled to the proximity connectors 212. In an exemplary embodiment, the proximity connectors 212 are substantially located at or near one or more corners (proximity connectors 212-1 and 212-2) and/or edges (proximity connectors 212-3) of the semiconductor die 210. In other embodiments, proximity connectors 212 may be situated at one or more arbitrary locations on, or proximate to, the surface of the semiconductor die 210.

As illustrated for the proximity connectors 212-1, there is a first pitch 214-1 between adjacent connectors or pads in a first direction (X) 216 of the surface and a second pitch 214-2 between adjacent connectors or pads in a second direction (Y) 218 of the surface. In some embodiments, the first pitch 214-1 and the second pitch 214-2 are approximately equal.

FIG. 3 presents a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an MCM 300 that includes semiconductor dies 210 that communicate using capacitively coupled proximity communication (which is used as an illustration). Semiconductor dies 210 may include proximity connectors or pads 212 that are located on or proximate to at least surfaces 308 of the semiconductor dies 210. For example, the proximity connectors 212 may be situated beneath protective layers such that they are located below the surfaces 308. Moreover, subsets of the proximity connectors 212 may be coupled to transmit circuits 310 (such as transmit drivers) and receive circuits 312 (such as receivers). One of the transmit circuits 310, at least a subset of the proximity connectors 212 on the adjacent semiconductor dies 210, and one of the receive circuits 312 may constitute a communication channel. For example, the communication channel may include: transmit circuit 310-1, some of the proximity connectors 212, and receive circuit 312-1. Note that transmit circuits 310 and receive circuits 312 may utilize voltage-mode signaling (i.e., voltage-mode drivers and receivers). Furthermore, semiconductor dies 210 may also include wiring and electronics (not shown) to relay the data signals to additional electronics on the semiconductor dies 210, such as: logic, memory (for example, a packet buffer memory), I/O ports, demultiplexers, multiplexers, and/or switching elements.

In order to communicate data signals using proximity communication, transmit and receive proximity connectors 212 on adjacent semiconductor dies 210 may have, at worst, only limited misalignment, i.e., substantially accurate alignment. For densely packed proximity connectors, i.e., proximity connectors 212 having a small spacing or pitch 214 (FIG. 2) between adjacent pads, the alignment between two or more proximity connectors 212 on adjacent semiconductor dies 210 may be within a few microns in the first direction (X) 216 (FIG. 2) and/or a few microns in the second direction (Y) 218 (FIG. 2), where the first direction (X) 216 and the second direction (Y) 218 are in a first plane including at least some of the proximity connectors 212. The alignment may be within a few microns in a third direction (Z) approximately perpendicular to the first plane. Note that MCM 300 illustrates a misalignment 314 in the third direction (Z).

In some embodiments, the proximity connectors 212 may be aligned in all six degrees of freedom, including: the first direction (X) 216 (FIG. 2); the second direction (Y) 218 (FIG. 2); the third direction (Z); an angle in the first plane defined by the first direction (X) 216 (FIG. 2) and the second direction (Y) 218 (FIG. 2); an angle in a second plane defined by the first direction (X) 216 (FIG. 2) and the third direction (Z); and an angle in a third plane defined by the second direction (Y) 218 (FIG. 2) and the third direction (Z). Note that X 216, Y 218, and Z are the normal orthogonal axes of 3-space. Also note that if a surface, such as the surface 308-1, of either of the adjacent semiconductor dies 210 is non-planar (for example, due to quadrapole distortion), additional alignment problems may be introduced.

In some embodiments, allowed misalignment in the first direction (X) 216 (FIG. 2), the second direction (Y) 218 (FIG. 2), and/or the third direction (Z) is less than one half of the pitch 214 (FIG. 2) between adjacent pads 212. For example, misalignment in the first direction (X) 216 (FIG. 2) and/or the second direction (Y) 218 (FIG. 2) may be less than 25 μm, and the misalignment 314 in the third direction (Z) may be less than 5 μm. In some embodiments, the misalignment 314 is between 1 and 10 μm.

Solutions, such as self-aligning and/or self-adjusting of the relative positions of the proximity connectors 212 on adjacent semiconductor dies 210 (and/or in a component such as a bridge chip coupling two or more semiconductor dies 210) may reduce and/or eliminate the misalignment 314 in the third direction (Z). For example, structures that have flexibility compliance (or are spring-like) may be used. In other embodiments, a feedback control loop may be used to reduce and/or eliminate the misalignment 314 in the third direction (Z). Moreover, as discussed further below, alignment of the semiconductor dies 210 (and thus, at least some of the proximity connectors 212) may be facilitated by coupling alignment features 316 located on or proximate to the surfaces 308.

Reducing or eliminating the misalignment 314, in turn, may lead to at least partial overlap of one or more proximity connectors 212 on the adjacent semiconductor dies 210 and may therefore increase a magnitude of the capacitively coupled data signals. In addition, the solutions may reduce misalignment in the first plane, i.e., the plane including at least some of the proximity connectors 212, when used in conjunction with techniques such as electronic steering (where data signals are routed to given proximity connectors 212 based on the alignment in the first plane). Consequently, these solutions may facilitate proximity communication between the semiconductor dies 210, SCMs and/or MCMs. The solutions may also reduce and/or eliminate a need for narrow tolerances, precise manufacturing, and/or precise assembly of the semiconductor dies 210, the SCM and/or the MCM.

In the embodiments described above and below, the proximity connectors 212 on the adjacent semiconductor dies 210 utilize capacitive coupling for inter-chip communication. In other embodiments, different connectors may be overlapped on adjacent semiconductor dies 210. For example, one embodiment of the present invention uses optical proximity connectors, in which data signals are communicated optically between terminals on adjacent semiconductor dies 210. Moreover, optical waveguides, fibers, light sources (such as diodes or lasers), and/or transceivers may be integrated onto semiconductor dies 210 (or an accompanying circuit board) for intra-chip communication. Other embodiments use magnetic proximity connectors, in which data signals are communicated magnetically between terminals on closely adjacent semiconductor dies 210, or conductive connectors (such as an array of solder balls).

In some embodiments, semiconductor dies 210 are contained in an array of semiconductor dies in an MCM. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, semiconductor dies 210 in such an array may be positioned face-to-face, such that proximity connectors 212 on the corners (and more generally on side edges) of the semiconductor dies 210 overlap and couple signals between adjacent semiconductor dies using, for example, capacitively coupled proximity communication. In another embodiment, the semiconductor dies 210 are face up (or face down) and signals between adjacent semiconductor dies are capacitively coupled via a face-down (or face-up) bridge chip.

While the device 200 (FIG. 2) and the MCM 300 are illustrated as having a number of components in a given configuration, in other embodiments the device 200 (FIG. 2) and/or the MCM 300 may include fewer components or additional components, two or more components may be combined into a single component, and/or a position of one or more components may be changed. Furthermore, functions of the MCM 300 may be implemented in hardware and/or in software.

We now described embodiments of alignment features, such as alignment features 316. In general, a wide variety of features, including positive features and negative features, may be used. These features may be fabricated on a wide variety of materials, including a semiconductor, a metal, a glass, sapphire, and/or silicon dioxide. In the discussion that follows silicon is used as an illustrative example. Furthermore, the features may be fabricated using additive and/or subtractive processes, including sputtering, isotropic etching, and/or anisotropic etching. In some embodiments, features are defined using photolithographic and/or direct-write techniques.

FIGS. 4A-4C provide embodiments 400, 430, and 450 that illustrate negative features fabricated on semiconductor dies 410, including: trenches, etch pits or slots 412, pyramids 440, and/or truncated pyramids 460. As noted previously, negative features may be fabricated using a subtractive process, for example, by selective etching into a silicon substrate. Note that the etching may be self-limiting or self-terminating, such as anisotropic lithography along the <111> crystallographic direction to produce pyramids 440 (FIG. 4B). However, in some embodiments etch stops are defined, for example, using CMOS technology, to produce truncated pyramids 460 (in which the sides are along the <111> crystallographic direction and the bottom is, for example, along the <100> crystallographic direction). Alternatively, truncated pyramids 460 may be fabricated by stopping an anisotropic etch prior to completion (such as when a desired etch depth is reached).

While not shown, positive features may include: hemispheres, ridges, top-hat shapes or bumps, pyramids, and/or truncated pyramids. For example, photoresist or metal bumps may be lithographically defined and annealed to allow surface tension to draw the material into a hemisphere (which may be subsequently hard baked). In some embodiments, these features mate with or couple to corresponding negative features facilitating ‘snap-fit’ assembly, thereby providing and maintaining precise alignment.

While embodiments 400 (FIG. 4A), 430 (FIG. 4B), and 450 (and the embodiments described below) are illustrated as having a limited number of negative features having a given configuration, other embodiments may include fewer components or additional components, two or more components may be combined into a single component, and/or a position of one or more components may be changed. For example, the negative and/or positive features may be fabricated in one or more directions. Thus, in some embodiments, positive features such as hemispheres have a hexagonal-closed-packed configuration. Furthermore, a wide variety of materials may be used for the positive and/or negative features. And in some embodiments, a given semiconductor die includes both positive and negative features, thereby breaking the symmetry and ensuring that chips can only be assembled in one physical arrangement or orientation

In some embodiments, a shape of one or more positive and/or a negative features is used to determine an orientation of a semiconductor die or to limit the possible semiconductor dies that a given semiconductor die can mate with in an MCM (thereby facilitating self-assembly of an MCM). This is illustrated in FIG. 5, which provides a block diagram of an embodiment 500 of a semiconductor die 510 that includes a key-shaped feature 512. Moreover, in some embodiments an arrangement of one or more features is used to restrict orientation or mating of semiconductor dies. This is illustrated in FIG. 6, which provides a block diagram of an embodiment 600 of a base plate 610 and features 612. Note that semiconductor dies and/or components (such as bridge chips) couple to the base plate 610 during the assembly of an MCM.

In some embodiments, one or more features on the semiconductor dies include a material, such as a soft metal to provide stress relief (for example, for stress due to relative motion or due to temperature differences) between coupled semiconductor dies. Furthermore, metal layers in or on such features may also allow coupling elements (such as micro-spheres) in an MCM to couple power to one or more semiconductor dies. In these embodiments, the coupling elements are made of metal or have a metal (conductive) coating. These coupling elements may or may not be used to align the semiconductor dies. For example, in some embodiments alignment is facilitated using positive and negative features and micro-spheres are used to couple power and/or ground to the semiconductor dies.

In some embodiments, spherical lenses or micro-spheres are used to align semiconductor dies and/or to couple optical signals between semiconductor dies. For example, micro-spheres may image light from a waveguide integrated on a first semiconductor die onto a waveguide integrated on a second semiconductor die, thereby facilitating optical communication between these semiconductor dies. In another embodiment, spherical resonators doped with optional optical gain materials are used to precisely align the first semiconductor die to the second semiconductor die. These spherical resonators may facilitate azimuthal coupling between the first waveguide integrated on the first semiconductor die and the second waveguide integrated on the second semiconductor die. Moreover, the spherical resonators may facilitate optical filtering and optical gain during optical communication between these semiconductor dies.

Thus, the micro-spheres may include materials such as: sapphire, glass, silicon dioxide, conductive materials (for example, a metal), and/or non-conductive materials.

In the discussion that follows, coupling elements (such as micro-spheres) are used in conjunction with negative features (as an example) to align semiconductor dies in an MCM. As noted previously, it is often difficult to place the coupling elements into the features during a wafer-scale process. In principle, fluidic self-assembly may be used to sort and position objects, such as coupling elements, into the features during a wafer-scale process. For example, assembly may be based on the geometry (i.e., the size, shape, and/or orientation) of the coupling elements and/or the features. However, while such geometry-based techniques offer high directional selectivity (as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6), the site selectivity (i.e., the ability to ensure that a given type of coupling element is placed into or coupled to a given type of feature) may be limited. This is a challenge, especially in heterogeneous environments that include coupling elements and/or features that have a range of: sizes, shapes, and/or orientations.

In contrast, chemical-based coatings (for example, adhesion promoters such as surfactants) on the coupling elements and/or in the features can offer high site selectivity. While arbitrary chemical compounds may be used to implement chemical-based fluidic self-assembly, in the discussion that follows chemicals containing one or more nucleic acids or nucleotides (such as DNA) are used as an illustrative example.

Nucleotides are composed of a phosphodiester covalently bound to a nucleoside or a derivative of a deoxyribose sugar and either a purine or pyrimidine nucleobase. Nucleobases include purines, such as: adenine (A), guanine (G), and the pyrimidines, i.e., thymine (T) and cytosine (C). These nucleotides can be bound to each other to form a linear chain (or strand) through their phosphodiester bonds that must terminate or begin at either the 5′ or 3′ carbon of the adjacent nucleotide (i.e., the 5^(th) or 3^(rd) carbon in the deoxyribose sugar). This arrangement imparts a direction to the chain because of an exposed 3′ or 5′ site at opposite ends. Note that each end is capped with either an —OH or a phosphate group.

A sequence of nucleotides (also called bases) in the strand can be arbitrary and by convention is written as a sequence from the 5′ end to the 3′ end (for example, 5′-AGGTC-3′). This represents a so-called single-stranded DNA molecule. Furthermore, the geometry of the phosphodiester bond and the shape of the nucleosides create the potential for single strands of DNA to wrap around one another in anti-parallel directions. Thus, any two strands are geometrically compatible if oriented in an anti-parallel fashion and can form a helical structure, or a double-stranded DNA molecule.

DNA-assisted self-assembly is a technique in which artificially synthesized single-stranded DNA self-assemble into DNA molecules. These DNA molecules have ends that display strong affinity for and preferentially match to the corresponding ends of certain other DNA molecules, thereby promoting the matching or mating of the molecules into a lattice. Note that the self-assembly of large two-dimensional lattices consisting of thousands of molecules has been demonstrated, and even three-dimensional lattices are expected. This spontaneous self-ordering of sub-structures into super-structures can be a powerful tool for self-assembly of complex systems.

An important quality of DNA that makes suitable for self-assembly is its ability to hybridize with its complement with very high selectivity. Furthermore, the ability to convert double-stranded DNA into a highly conductive ohmic contact during a metallization process makes the use of DNA assembly at micro- and nano-length scales useful for establishing circuit connections. Note that the hybridization or self-assembly is guided by the thermodynamic properties of DNA that give it the ability to form unique pairs among complementary strands. Also note that these techniques may be used to create self-assembling structures at length scales between 10 nm (the molecular scale) and a few centimeters with strong site selectivity. For example, simple experiments have shown that conductive gold balls can be hybridized using DNA to select specific locations on an array.

Unfortunately, there are some problems associated with DNA-assisted self-assembly. In particular, self-assembly of nano-scale components may be hindered by surface-area effects that limit the yield of the process. In other words, there may be competing nonspecific interactions that need to be reduced in order to enhance specific (for example, DNA-binding) assembly events. In addition, the assembly of DNA molecules accelerates inversely with temperature. Consequently, DNA-assisted self-assembly is an inherently stochastic process with potentially uncertain result and the termination of such a process is not guaranteed.

These problems (and those discussed previously) may be addressed by combining geometry-based selection and chemical-based selection during fluidic self-assembly to provide high site selection. In some embodiments, a highly selective, stochastic assembly process (such as DNA-assisted self-assembly) includes a strong homogeneous forcing function. This assembly process is rapid and parallel (thus, reducing assembly time and cost), and facilitates selective placement of alignment microstructures (i.e., coupling elements) into corresponding features (such as etch pits) in the host semiconductor dies and/or other components in an MCM (such as the base plate or bridge chips). In addition, the combination of these techniques helps terminate the assembly process with high yield and is well suited for heterogeneous assembly.

FIG. 7 presents a block diagram illustrating an embodiment 700 of a technique for assembling an MCM in which micro-spheres 716 are placed into corresponding pyramidal-shaped features 712 in a base plate 710. In this embodiment, the pyramidal-shaped features 712 include chemical coatings 714 and the micro-spheres 716 include chemical coatings 718. These coatings provide chemical-based selectivity. Furthermore, the geometry of the micro-spheres 716 and/or the pyramidal-shaped features 712 provides geometry-based selectivity, as illustrated by the different sizes of the micro-spheres 716 and the pyramidal-shaped features 712 (thus, micro-sphere 716-1 may be positioned into pyramidal-shaped features 712-1 and micro-sphere 716-2 may be positioned into pyramidal-shaped features 712-2). Using this assembly technique, alignment micro-structures or coupling elements (such as the micro-spheres 716) can be self-assembled into the appropriate pyramidal-shaped features 712 in the base plate 710 (such as a silicon chip) with high accuracy and yield. Note that these coupling elements may have: differing purposes, materials, sizes, and/or shapes.

In an exemplary embodiment, coatings 714 and/or 718 include one or more nucleic acids or nucleotides, i.e., DNA-assisted fluidic self-assembly is used to position the micro-spheres 716 into the pyramidal-shaped features 712. This may be accomplished by coating a set of micro-structures (such as at least some of the micro-spheres 716) with a first type of artificially produced DNA strands (i.e., at least some of the coatings 718). Then, a photolithographic mask may be used to place a second set of DNA strands (i.e., at least some of the coatings 714), which are complementary to the first type of DNA strands and have a high affinity for the first type of DNA strands, into a corresponding set of target features (i.e., at least some of the pyramidal-shaped features 712) in the base plate 710 where the set of micro-structures are to be assembled.

In some embodiments, these operations are repeated and multiple types of pairs of coatings are used. For example, a second set of micro-structures are coated with a third type of artificially produced DNA strands and another photolithographic mask may be used to place a fourth type of artificially produced DNA strands into a corresponding set of target features. Note that the third and fourth types of artificially produced DNA strands have a high affinity for each other and may also have a strong repulsion with the first and second types of artificially produced DNA strands. These operations may be repeated until all of the micro-spheres 716 and all of the pyramidal-shaped features 712 include coatings 714 and 718.

In some embodiments of the assembly process, fluids containing different micro-spheres 716 (i.e., having different sizes, shapes, and/or coatings 718) may be applied sequentially. For example, a first fluid (such as a solvent) containing larger micro-spheres, micro-spheres having a given shape (such as a cylinder or a sphere), and/or micro-spheres having a first type of coating may be applied to the base plate 710. This fluid may remain in contact with the base plate 710 for sufficient time (for example, a few minutes) to allow these micro-spheres to couple to corresponding pyramidal-shaped features 712. Then, the fluid may be removed and any residual or excess micro-spheres, which are on the surface of the base plate 710 but which are not in or chemically bonded to appropriate pyramidal-shaped features 712, may be removed. For example, the fluid may be removed by evaporation and residual micro-spheres may be removed using a rise or wash operation. Next, these operations may be repeated with one or more additional fluids containing progressively smaller micro-spheres, micro-spheres having another shape, and/or micro-spheres having different types of coatings. Alternatively, in some embodiments the multiple types of micro-spheres are applied to the base plate 710 in parallel, i.e., using a single fluid.

Note that various metrics may be used to determine how long a given fluid needs to be in contact with the base plate 710. For example, contact may be maintained until a percentage or all of the pyramidal-shaped features 712 are filled with micro-spheres 716. In some embodiments, a fill factor is determined by measuring how many of the pyramidal-shaped features 712 appear as light or dark in an image.

In some embodiments, at least some of the micro-spheres 716 are dissolved after assembly of the MCM is completed. For example, some of the micro-spheres 716 may include polystyrene, which may be dissolved using acetone or another organic solvent. Moreover, in some embodiments extra micro-spheres are recovered or recycled from one or more fluids using a filtering operation.

In some embodiments, a driving force is used to accelerate the fluidic assembly. For example, an optional driver 720 may apply a DC or time varying field between a terminal 722 and the base plate 710. In some embodiments, the driving force includes: mechanical agitation (such as ultrasound), an electric field, a magnetic field, and/or an electromagnetic field. Moreover, in some embodiments gravity is used to separate bound micro-spheres from excess micro-spheres, which may simply roll of the surface of a tilted base plate 710. Note that the use of a driving force can reduce a sensitivity of the fluidic self-assembly process to temperature variations and/or surface tension.

In an exemplary embodiment, the driving force is an electric field, in an electrochemical transport process referred to as micro-electrophoresis. However, this technique is only applicable to non-conductive, homogeneous coupling elements (such as glass micro-spheres) and movement is only restricted along specific directions (i.e., along the direction of the applied electric field).

Using one or more of these embodiments, an MCM may be assembled with high accuracy and high site selectivity. In addition, by combining geometry-based selectivity with chemical-based selectivity, a stochastic process (such as DNA-based fluidic self-assembly) may be converted into one with a known, high yield.

We now describe embodiments of methods for assembling an MCM. FIG. 8 provides a flow chart illustrating a process 800 for assembling an MCM. During this process, a fluid that includes coupling elements is applied to a surface of a base plate in an MCM (810). Then, at least some of the coupling elements are positioned into negative features on the surface of the base plate using fluidic assembly (812). Note that a given coupling element selects a given negative feature using chemical-based selection and/or geometry-based selection. Next, the fluid and excess coupling elements (which reside in regions outside of the negative features on the surface) are removed (814).

FIG. 9 provides a flow chart illustrating a process 900 for assembling an MCM. During this process, a fluid that includes coupling elements is applied to a surface of a base plate in an MCM (910). This fluid contains a first type of coupling elements and a second type of coupling elements. Then, at least some of the coupling elements are positioned into negative features on the surface of the base plate using fluidic assembly (912). Note that a given coupling element selects a given negative feature using chemical-based selection and/or geometry-based selection. Furthermore, the first type of coupling elements have different chemical-based selection and/or different geometry-based selection than the second type of coupling elements. Next, the fluid and excess coupling elements (which reside in regions outside of the negative features on the surface) are removed (814).

In some embodiments of the processes 800 (FIG. 8) and/or 900 there may be additional or fewer operations, the order of the operations may be changed, and two or more operations may be combined into a single operation.

Note that the present invention may be used to fabricate MCMs that are included in systems. For example, FIG. 10 presents a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a computer system 1000, which includes one or more processors 1010, a communication interface 1012, a user interface 1014, and one or more signal lines 1022 coupling these components together. Note that the one or more processing units 1010 may support parallel processing and/or multi-threaded operation, the communication interface 1012 may have a persistent communication connection, and the one or more signal lines 1022 may constitute a communication bus. Moreover, the user interface 1014 may include: a display 1016, a keyboard 1018, and/or a pointer, such as a mouse 1020.

Computer system 1000 may include memory 1024, which may include high speed random access memory and/or non-volatile memory. More specifically, memory 1024 may include: ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, one or more smart cards, one or more magnetic disc storage devices, and/or one or more optical storage devices. Memory 1024 may store an operating system 1026, such as SOLARIS, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, or WINDOWS, that includes procedures (or a set of instructions) for handling various basic system services for performing hardware dependent tasks. Memory 1024 may also store procedures (or a set of instructions) in a communication module 1028. The communication procedures may be used for communicating with one or more computers and/or servers, including computers and/or servers that are remotely located with respect to the computer system 1000.

Memory 1024 may also include the one or more program modules (of sets of instructions) 1030. Instructions in the program modules 1030 in the memory 1024 may be implemented in a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly or machine language. The programming language may be compiled or interpreted, i.e., configurable or configured to be executed by the one or more processing units 1010.

Computer system 1000 may include one or more macro-chips 1008 (such as one or more MCMs) that include semiconductor dies and/or components that are aligned using an assembly process that involves chemical-based and/or geometry-based selection as described in the previous embodiments.

Computer system 1000 may include fewer components or additional components, two or more components may be combined into a single component, and/or a position of one or more components may be changed. In some embodiments, the functionality of the computer system 1000 may be implemented more in hardware and less in software, or less in hardware and more in software, as is known in the art.

Although the computer system 1000 is illustrated as having a number of discrete items, FIG. 10 is intended to be a functional description of the various features that may be present in the computer system 1000 rather than as a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the functions of the computer system 1000 may be distributed over a large number of servers or computers, with various groups of the servers or computers performing particular subsets of the functions. In some embodiments, some or all of the functionality of the computer system 1000 may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method for assembling a multi-chip module (MCM), comprising: applying a fluid to a surface of a base plate in the MCM, wherein the fluid includes coupling elements; positioning at least some of the coupling elements into negative features on the surface of the base plate using fluidic assembly, wherein a given coupling element selects a given negative feature using chemical-based selection and geometry-based selection; and removing the fluid and excess coupling elements which reside in regions outside of the negative features on the surface.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the negative features include a depression, and wherein at least a portion of the depression has a pyramidal shape.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling elements include micro-spheres.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the micro-spheres include a metal, thereby facilitating electrical conduction via the micro-spheres.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the micro-spheres are transparent in a range of wavelengths, thereby facilitating optical communication via the micro-spheres.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometry-based selection involves selection based on sizes of at least some of the coupling elements.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometry-based selection involves selection based on shapes of at least some of the coupling elements.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical-based selection involves selection based on a first compound coupled to at least some of the coupling elements and a second compound coupled to at least some of the negative features, and wherein the first compound is configured to chemically bond to the second compound.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein a given compound, which can be the first compound or the second compound, includes a nucleic acid.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the given compound includes a compound selected from the group which includes: adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, urasil, pseudouradine, thymidine, and inosine.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein a given compound, which can be the first compound or the second compound, includes a surfactant to facilitate adhesion of at least some of the coupling elements to at least some of the negative features.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluidic assembly involves mechanically agitating the fluid to facilitate the positioning.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning involves electrostatically or magnetostatically driving at least some of the coupling elements to the negative features.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the assembling involves repeated applications of fluids which include progressively smaller coupling elements.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling a semiconductor die to the base plate, wherein the coupling involves aligning negative features on a first surface of the semiconductor die with the coupling elements in the negative features on the surface of the base plate.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein a pattern of the negative features on the surface of the base plate determines an orientation of the semiconductor die.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the semiconductor die is configured to communicate signals using proximity connectors proximate to a second surface of the semiconductor die.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising coupling another semiconductor die to the semiconductor die using coupling elements positioned in negative features on the second surface of the semiconductor die and in negative features on a surface of the other semiconductor die.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising coupling a component to the semiconductor die using coupling elements positioned in negative features on the second surface of the semiconductor die and in negative features on a surface of the component, wherein the component is configured to couple signals from the semiconductor die to another semiconductor die.
 20. A method for assembling a multi-chip module (MCM), comprising: applying a fluid to a surface of a base plate in the MCM, wherein the fluid includes coupling elements, and wherein the coupling elements include a first type of coupling element and a second type of coupling element; positioning at least some of the coupling elements into negative features on the surface of the base plate using fluidic assembly, wherein a given coupling element in at least some of the coupling elements selects a given negative feature using chemical-based selection and geometry-based selection, and wherein the first type of coupling elements have different chemical-based and geometry-based selection than the second type of coupling element; and removing the fluid and excess coupling elements which reside in regions outside of the negative features on the surface. 